This Meatball Soup is hearty from the orzo pasta and meatballs, but with a light and lemony broth. It’s a wonderful 30 minute meal that’s delicious on a cold and dreary day!

Serve this with some homemade garlic bread to mop of the last spoonfuls in the bowl.

Lemon Orzo Meatball Soup Recipe

My freezer is never without a batch of these homemade Italian meatballs. I keep them on hand to accompany our spaghetti sauce, meatball sliders, and soups like this. Just thaw them and this soup is ready in no time for a quick, easy, satisfying meal.

The broth is bright and lemony, while the meatballs and orzo pasta make it filling. We just love it.

Ingredients Needed

Here’s what you’ll need to make this meatball soup:
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

• Meatballs – as mentioned above, we use our homemade beef meatballs for this soup, but your favorite store-bought brand is totally fine. Our turkey meatballs could also be used.
• Vegetables – Carrots, onion, and garlic provide aromatics and great flavor.
• Olive oil – Used to sauté the vegetables.
• Chicken broth – Opt for low sodium to control the saltiness of the soup.
• Lemon juice – Freshly squeezed will give you optimal results.
• Orzo pasta – Uncooked orzo is added to the soup and absorbs the broth as it cooks.
• Seasonings – Dried thyme, fresh chopped parsley, salt, and pepper.
• Parmesan – Freshly grated for best flavor.

How to Make Meatball Soup

It’s so easy to make this soup recipe in just 30 minutes. Here’s a brief summary:
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

• Sauté the vegetables. In a Dutch oven pot, warm the olive oil and sauté onion, carrots, and garlic until tender. Season with the thyme and salt and pepper to taste.
• Add the broth, lemon juice, and pasta. Pour in the chicken broth and lemon juice; bring to a boil. Add the uncooked orzo and reduce heat; simmer, stirring occasionally for 8 minutes.
• Add the meatballs. Stir in the meatballs and simmer for an additional 7 minutes until meatballs are warmed through and the pasta is tender.
• Finish and serve. Stir in the Parmesan and parsley, then taste and adjust the salt and pepper, if necessary.

What to Serve with Meatball Soup

Between the little pasta, vegetables, and meatballs, this hearty soup is a complete meal all on its own. You can enjoy it as is, but serving it with some popovers, garlic bread, 7 Up Biscuits, or dutch oven bread to help mop up the last spoonfuls is never a bad idea!

You can also add a simple salad for a classic soup and salad combo. A nice side salad or caesar salad are great options.

How to Store

This hearty soup stores and reheats well. However, if you plan on having leftovers I recommend not adding the orzo directly to the soup and instead cook it separately and store it separately.

• In the fridge. This soup will last for 3-4 days in the fridge in an airtight container. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
• In the freezer. Meatball soup freezes well. Allow to cool then transfer to a freezer-safe container. It will freeze for up to 3 months. Add cooked orzo pasta after the soup thaws.

More Soup Recipes:

• Chicken Noodle Soup
• Matzo Ball Soup
• Slow Cooker Beef Stew
• Minestrone Soup
• French Onion Soup
• Stuffed Pepper Soup

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!